WHEN TEMPTATION BECOMES A SIN?
1st Corinthians 10:13
(13) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Our scripture tells us that God will not allow us to be “…tempted above that ye are able…”
So then, temptation itself must not be a sin.
Where does Temptation come from? “Satan”
James 1:13 says;
(13) Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
So then we know temptation comes from the Devil.
Satan can tempt us in many different ways.
For some:
MONEY
POWER
MATERIAL THINGS
SEX
FOOD
Any temptation that would bring harm to us is of the devil.
But the temptation itself is not sin.
So then you ask, “When does temptation become sin?”
Well let’s look closer at the Word and find out what the bible says.
FIRST OF ALL, EVERY MAN IS TEMPTED.
From our text;
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:”
Each of us has at sometime had a thought of evil.
Just because we have had an evil thought, it does not mean we have sinned.
Jesus Christ himself was tempted.
Satan tempted him by offering (tempting) him to have all the kingdoms of the world.
So then it crossed his mind;
Jesus had an evil thought.
Yet he sinned not!
Just because we have evil thoughts that doesn’t mean we have to sin.
If Jesus had thoughts of evil things, so will we.
So then the “thought of evil,” is not a sin.
TEMPTATION BRINGS STRONG IMAGINATIONS
(EVERYMAN IS DRAWNAWAY)
Anything that tempts us will sharpen our imagination.
If I told you I had a Red-Velvet cake here tonight;
1. And showed you just how good it looked; (think of the Color, Pecans, White Icing)
2. And explained to you just how good it taste; (Moist, Sweet)
How many of you have already imagined in your mind how good it would be?
Anything that tempts us will raise our imagination.
If it didn’t, it really wasn’t a temptation to begin with, right?
Just because we have a strong imagination of doing that in which we are tempted,
It in itself is not a sin.
If it were, that Red-Velvet cake would have us all in trouble!
So then, being tempted, or having a strong imagination is not a sin.
TO LOOK UPON SOMETHING WITH DELIGHT
IS NOT YET SIN
When you are tempted, then given strong imaginations, and delighted upon something, you still have not yet sinned. (Close, but not yet)
To look upon something & to find delight in that which you are looking, is not yet sin.
Let’s go back to that Red-Velvet cake.
You were first of all tempted by it.
You then had strong imaginations of eating it.
If I had it in my hand, you may have delighted in viewing it.
But that would not yet bring sin.
There are many of us who are tempted; given’ to strong imaginations; delight in them;
yet do not sin.
My wife and I recently passed by a place where I seen a beautiful thing.
I said to myself;
boy, that sure is nice.
I like the way that looks
That looks really hot
But I knew I better leave it alone.
I knew it would get me in trouble.
I knew I couldn’t afford to pay the price..,
of that “Ford Mustang.”
What did y’all think I was talking about?
To look upon something and to delight in it is not yet the sin.
If it were, I would be in trouble!
To be tempted;
To have a strong imagination;
To find delight in viewing is not yet sin.
Hold on now, were getting there.
BEING ENTICED IS NOT SIN
When one is enticed, his/her will is weakened.
When you get to this point you are so close to sin, it is next to impossible to stop.
But you haven’t yet sinned.
James 1:14 says;
(14) But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Or you could read it like this;
But every man has thought of evil, when he has imagined strongly his delight in viewing and his will has been weakened.
Yes, this is close, but not yet sin.
Who is tempted? (Every Man)
When he is what? (Drawn Away) or you could say, (Strong Imaginations)
Of what? (Lust) or you could say, (Delight In Viewing)
And what? (Enticed) (That is Weakening Of The Will)
So then “all” go through this.
When you are “Enticed;”
When your will weakens, you are getting dangerously close to sin.
How many of you have ever pulled a stopper out of a sink of water?
Enticed is just before you pull the stopper out.
You are thinking about it, but have not quiet started to do it.
They are many who have not yet pulled the stopper out, but are thinking about doing it.
If someone is here tonight and you are at this point, you are dangerously close.
Once the stopper is pulled out the sink, there’s no putting the water back into the sink.
Satan tempts all of us.
1. First he will get you to think of evil
2. Then he will try and get you to have strong imaginations
3. He will try and have you view things in which you will delight in.
4. Next, he will try and entice you and get your will to weaken
5. Finally, he will try and get you to yield.
YIELIDING TO TEMPTATION BRINGS FORTH SIN
Yielding is when one intends to do that in which he has been tempted.
It’s the initial intent to eat the red-velvet cake
It’s when you intend to pull the stopper out of the sink
It’s when you make a deal to purchase the Mustang you can’t pay for start with
Yielding is sin conceived!
WE NEED TO LET OUR MIND BE A GUARD TO OUR HEART
When temptation comes, think of the steps that lead to destruction.
By doing so, we can avoid sin.
The mind is a powerful thing.
If we will think of the consequences we can keep from falling into sin.
When those temptations do come rejoice in them.
James 1:2 says;
(2) My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
When we are tempted to do wrong we should stand strong and resist it.
And count it a joy, to have been tempted.
For verse three says temptation only strengthens our patience.
James 1:12 says;
(12) Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
How do you mean, “count it all joy?”
THINK of the promise we have on enduring those temptations. (Crown of Life)
Will temptation come to me? Yes
Is temptation a sin? No
Can temptation lead to sin? Yes
Does God tempt us? No, Satan tempts us.
Why does God allow temptation? To strengthen us.
What is our reward for enduring temptation? The Crown Of Life
Just as sure as there is a way into temptation, there’s also a way out.
You do not have to allow temptation to overcome you. You can overcome it.
Our text gives us hope
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
© Rev. James W. Bryant
Tuesday, August 28th, 2001 9:42pm
